These words,
which I am ordering you today, are to be on your heart; and
you are
to teach
themcarefully to your
children. You are to talk about them when you sit at home, when
you are traveling on the road, when you lie down and when you
get up.

MHSA CALENDAR

Historic First—From Classroom to Boardroom

Homeschool
Graduate Elected to State Board of Education

Homeschoolers have often shown their passion for education. Now,
one homeschooler is taking that passion from the classroom to the
capital of Ohio.

Sarah
Fowler, a 24-year-old homeschool graduate from Rock Creek, in what
is believed to be an historic first—perhaps in the nation—was
elected to the Ohio State Board of Education. The state board
reviews candidates for state superintendent, recommends policy
reforms to the legislature, and sets administrative policy
regulations. Every five years, the board reviews the state’s
homeschool laws—a review that is next scheduled to come up this
summer.

Eleven
board members are elected from districts, and eight at-large members
appointed by the governor. When the redistricting process left
Ohio’s 7th District without a board member, Fowler, encouraged by
friends, decided to run for the vacant seat. Fowler filed as a
candidate just two days before the filing deadline and 92 days
before the election. Few expected her to do well, let alone win.

Core Supporters

Despite
meager funds and a short campaign schedule, Fowler worked overtime
with a core group of family and volunteers, attending over 80 events
in three months. With 13 years of experience as a small business
owner, Fowler drew on her skills in sales, marketing, and graphic
design to reach potential voters.

Along
with her six younger siblings, Fowler was homeschooled from the
start by her parents, Kevin and Laura Fowler. Having grown up as a
homeschool student, Fowler strongly supports homeschooling and
school choice.

“Parents have the God-given right and responsibility to direct
their children’s education,” Fowler wrote onher
campaign website. “I desire to protect their right to
choose whatever educational opportunity they deem best for their
children.”

In
addition to supporting the rights of parents and educational choice,
Fowler also campaigned on reforming school curriculum and education
funding. Concerned about possible bias in public school curriculum,
Fowler wants to ensure that all subjects, especially history,
provide an accurate and contextual education for students. Fowler
also seeks to move away from an education system funded by property
taxes to a more broad-based system.

Winning Big

Fowler
won with 60 percent of the vote—more than twice the number as the
second-place candidate, 38-year-old education law attorney James
Collum, who received 26 percent. Fowler won her home county,
Ashtabula, with 67 percent.

Research has indicated that homeschooling produces mature,
responsible students who can take the skills they learn in the
classroom to serve their communities. Homeschool students have been
shown on average not only to perform higher academically, but also
to be more engaged as citizens and leaders. At 24, Sarah Fowler is
living proof of this. She brings experience from working on her
family’s farm, running her own business, and being homeschooled and
hopes to use the lessons learned to serve others in Ohio.

“I look
forward to serving our district on the State Board of Education for
the next two years,” Fowler wrote in a Facebook post after the
election. “I appreciate your ongoing prayer support.”

“I look
forward to working with her and other advocates of freedom,
including Christian Home Educators of Ohio, to advance the right of
parents to direct the education and upbringing of their children.
Her election is a shining example of what can happen when energy and
enthusiasm combine with a good home education!” he said.